Springfield police officer under review following arrest of student in school hallway

A Springfield Police officer is under review after an incident captured on video shows him grabbing a juvenile by the neck in a school hallway.

Security footage captured a student at the High School of Commerce walking through a school hallway when he passed the officer, assigned as a school resource officer for the city high school.

The student appears to make eye contact with the officer and say something. The officer follows, taking several steps toward the teen before grabbing him by the back of the neck and holding him against the wall.

Video recorded shows another officer and school official intervene within seconds, seeking to separate the two. One holds the teen as the officer who grabbed the teen handcuffs him.

The incident, which occurred in December, made waves this week after it was shared on social media by Bishop Talbert W. Swan II. The president of the Springfield chapter of the NAACP and head of Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ on Alden Street called the video “abuse” by an officer assigned to the school and said he has raised concerns with local officials. The video drew significant reaction from the community.

Azell Cavaan, chief communications officer for Springfield Public Schools, said school officials immediately contacted the department following the incident, requesting the officer be reassigned.

Shortly after, an investigation was opened into the matter, Ryan Walsh, a spokesperson for the Springfield Police Department, said.

The officer, who has not been identified by the department, was reassigned during the internal affair investigation, which may take up to 90 days from the date of the incident.

The student, a minor, was not identified due to his age and the reason for his arrest was not specified.

“First of all, a small number of our youths have a tendency to show disrespect and/or malice towards authority figures, whether it's their parents, seniors, other youths, teachers and/or public safety officials,” Sarno said. “Situations always have two sides to the story, but avoidance of confrontation and de-escalation tactics is always the key.”

Sarno emphasized the positives of school resource officers in city schools. “We have made tremendous positive strides and built positive relationships with our Quebec team and students and the statistics bear that out. Bottom line here is that mutual respect must be achieved by all parties involved, but as I stated before, avoidance of confrontation and de-escalation tactics is first and foremost in these situations."

There are 20 members of the Springfield Police Department assigned as school resource officers in Springfield Public Schools - known as the Quebec Unit. The program was formed to promote safety in city schools. The officers assigned to the unit undergo training to better interact with the students.

Arrests are down significantly in city schools - 70 percent between 2011 and 2016, when arrests dropped from 301 to 80. Suspensions are also down, from an out-of-school suspension rate of 10.5 percent during the 2012-2013 school year to 7 percent during the 2017-2018 school year.